The Opelousas courier., 1887-05-21
GIRL AGAINST BULL.
A Feminine Bull Fighter in
the City Of Mexico.
Fastened to Stills She Oonquers Two Savage
Bulls With Ease.

A City of Mexico letter to the Indian
apolis Journal says: just prior to the
effect of the decree against bull
fighting, / was fortunate enough to wit
ness a contest in which n of the most
skillful. daring and expert of the profess
fighters of Mexico took a leading
part. This performer was a young wo-
man, whose equal has probably never
appeared in the ''Plaza dc Toros." In
this, her farewell exhibition, senorita
Hernandez advertised for the wildest
and fercest bulls The country could pro-
duce, and agreed to fight them while
wearing stills. The novelty of a young
girl engaging in a bull fight handicapped
by having stills fastened to her
feet was sufficient to attract a vast
crowd, and On the day fixed for the
event fully 5000 persons found places to
sit or stanl in the large amphitheatrc.
The animals provided for the occasion
were small, active, and wholly untamcd,
each having his horns trimmed and
polished until the points were as bright
and almost as sharp as needles. Never
was more expert work done in this cruel
sport than was cooIly performed by the
Mexican girl on that day. AS the bull,
mad with rage, would make his furious
charge, she would stand until he had
approached within a distance of about
three feet, when, suddenly springing to
n side, she would, as the animal
rushed f~uriously by, with one hand slap
him in the face with the red cloak with
which his anger had been first aroused,
while with the other hanl she dextrously
thrust into his neck q gauay barbed
s'banderilla," causing him to roar with
pain and rage. Charge after charge
was made by the maddencd brute, only
to be eluded by the active girl, while
the bull met the same treatment as be-
fore. The little %senor.ta played with
him, plagued him, and tortured him as
a cat would q mouse, until the animal,
bleeding and sore and worn out with
fatigue and pain, gave up the contest
and would fight no more. He had met
his conquerer, and was taken from the
ring.
In the next contest the fair Castilian
was under an advertised obligation, while
yet wearing the sti:ts, to kill the bull
with a sword scarce,y two feet in length.
This was to be done by the toreadora at
the time the animal was making the
charge, the fatal thrust to be given
while she was directly in front of and
fairly facing the bull.
The animal selected for this contest
was a beautiful specimen of his race.
Black us coal, agile as a cat, savage and
wild, he was no sooner within the arena
than he was ready for the battle. After
he had been permitted to make a charge
or two to warm him to his work, the
governor, who presided on the occa
sion, gave a signal and the bugle sound.
ed the tsdeath CALL" The senorita, with
stills of one foot in height securely
fastened to her limbs, received the short
sword, saluted the governor, and turn
ing to her enemy gave a shout of def
ance and waved her scarlet cloak
rouse his anger. At this time the dis.
lance separating the antagonists was
almost 200 feet. Toro, quiverine
with excitement and paving the eartt
in his rage, waited for no second invita-.
lion. With flashing eyes and head
lowered to the ground, he started al
full speed for the oaiectof his hate. Tit
brave girl waited until the beast WA
within sS AEfl
sen nrnliE she held her sword at shout
der height, ready for his coming. Wher
within about four feet, she threw bel
body suddenly forward, gave a quicl
thrust with the sword, and, without
waiting to see the effect OF the blow,
swung quickly around and again salutei
the governor. In the %twinkling of al
eye she turned to face the bull, and a
she did SO he dropped dead, so close t.
her that, without moving from her posi-
ton. she placed one foot upon the necl
of her now helpless enemy.
The sword, directed by the stron!
arms Of the sclf-possessed girl, hac
severed the spinal cord, aud death wa
instantaneous and probably painless. ]
was a pcrilous feat, skillfutly and fear
lessIy performed, and the slightes
nervousness on the part of the performe
would probably have 7 suited in he
death. The great audience, in rocogni
ton Of the skill of the toreadora, ros
to its feet, and for several moment
there was a shower Of gold and silve
coins falling around the victorious girl
Rheumatism as an Inheritance.
This seems q be a rheumatic year
The interesting but not welcome diseas
has included in its fraternal grip mo
and woman without distinction as t
ages or social conditions. stalwar